Portland Blows Open Close Game in Third

PORTLAND - Joachim Blichfeld and Cody Glass each collected three points to break a scoreless tie in the third period to help the Portland Winterhawks get by the Everett Silvertips, 5-1 on Saturday night before 8,012 fans at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in WHL action.

Dustin Wolf and Joel Hofer exchanged saves through the first 40 minutes until the Winterhawks scored twice in 1:09 to take a 2-0 lead. Jackson Berezowski broke Hofer's shutout bid with 15 seconds left in regulation.

UP NEXT: The Tips aim to get back in the win column on home ice tomorrow, 4:05 p.m. against the Victoria Royals (KRKO / Tips App). Tickets available at everettsilvertips.com/tickets (1380 AM / 95.3 FM / Tips App / WHL Live).

Both teams elevated the pace in a scoreless first period with Dustin Wolf showcasing two big saves on Joachim Blichfeld early in the game, and a breakaway stop on Seth Jarvis with a minutes left in the period.

The Tips best look in the second period came on a Bryce Kindopp breakaway, who misfired over the net but Connor Dewar returned the rebound to the net quickly on a backhanded wraparound that was stopped by Hofer's stick.

At 3:56 of the third period, Blichfeld finished a backhander between the circles, set up by Glass for a 1-0 lead after the Tips narrowly missed forcing a turnover at center ice. Jared Freadrich scored from the left circle on a two-man advantage at 5:05 and Glass extended the lead to three after a Silvertip turnover behind the net, set up by Josh Paterson at 15:19.

The Tips earned a late power play after a tripping penalty to Freadrich and pulled Wolf for a 6-on-4 situation, earning a pair of high quality looks including a Kindopp chance at the left post that was stopped by Hofer's pads. Jake Gricius finished an empty netter with 3:48 left and Brendan deJong put the Winterhawks up 5-0 before Jackson Berezowski stashed a shutout busting rebound with 15 seconds to play.

THREE STARS

1. Joel Hofer

2. Joachim Blichfeld

3. Cody Glass

SILVERTIPS LINE COMBOS

39 / GONCALVES 43 / DEWAR 19 / KINDOPP

20 / ANDRUSIAK 12 / PATTERSON 17 / BEREZOWSKI

90 / HOLMES 26 / VITELLI 7 / FASKO-RUDAS

22 / GURNEY 17 / BEREZOWSKI 27 / PRICE

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS

23 / CHRISTIANSEN 5 / MINULIN

8 / SEELEY 86 / KHAIRA

29 / WYLIE 4 / WALKER

GOALTENDERS

32 / WOLF

31 / PALAGA

NOTES: Silvertips scratches included Riley Sutter, Gianni Fairbrother, and Conrad Mitchell .... the Tips dropped consecutive losses in regulation for the first time since the first two games of the regular season ... Berezowski's goal ended a team scoreless drought of 129:10 ... the Tips outshot Portland, 34-32 ... their season series record moved to 5-3-0-0.